Pollution and its effect on livestock
Note prepared by Dr. Lakshya Jyoti
Kakati
M.V.Sc, CAU,
Ph.D. Department of LPM, C.V.Sc,
AAU, Khanapara, Ghy-22(Undergoing)
Introduction
Pollution is the introduction of
harmful contaminants into air, water or soil. These contaminants can have
adverse effects on entire ecosystems, making life more difficult for humans,
plants and animals. Children and the elderly are particularly susceptible to
the health effects from these toxins. In many cases, exposure to pollution has
a cumulative effect on the human animal as well as plant body.
According toWikipedia, Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that causes adverse
change.Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat or light. Pollutants, the components of pollution, can be either
foreign substances/energies or naturally occurring contaminants.
Animals sharing man's environment are presented to a variety of
dangerous contaminations which may be unsafe to their wellbeing. The wellbeing
impacts of contamination in animals differ from unpretentious or constant
inebriation to long term intense toxicities relying upon source and sort of
poison, degree and course of presentation degree and level of other connecting
operators, and species, age, physiology and sustenance of the uncovered
domesticated animals populace. Buildup of contaminations in domesticated
animals items unfavorably influence their quality and cause potential risk to
general wellbeing due to defilement of natural pecking order.
In India, issue of contamination is identified with ill-conceived
formative tasks and abuse of regular assets by consistently expanding human
populace. Intense and constant lead toxicosis, fluorosis and pesticide harming
have been perceived as real wellbeing risks of contamination in domesticated
animals with the expanding frequencies in later past demonstrating developing
risk of contamination to the domesticated animals wellbeing. Logical
information additionally uncovered lingering impacts of contaminations, for
example, harmful substantial metals what's more, pesticides in creature
sustenance items. Be that as it may, when contrasted with therapeutic
information, fewer investigations have been directed to assess sick impacts of
contamination in domesticated animals in the nation. There is a requirement for
escalated studies and furthermore to make proposals with respect to how best to
confine sick impacts of contamination in domesticated animals.
Factor of pollution and environmental degradation are mainly of two
types:
1. Natural factor: The natural pollution is caused and
produced naturally and will not affect our environment because of its
regeneration ability. This includes tornado, draft, volcanic eruptions, tropical storm, twister and
so forth man has no power.
Ø Volcanic
activities –
volcanic eruptions emit a series of toxic gases (including sulfur and chlorine)
as well as particulate matter (ash particles) but are usually restricted to
localized areas;
Ø Winds
and air currents –
can mobilize pollutants from the ground and transport them over large areas;
Ø Wildfires – add carbon monoxide, as
well as particulate matter, to the atmosphere (containing organic contaminants
such as PAHs); could affect significant areas, although in general they are
restricted and may be contained;
Ø Microbial
decaying processes –
microorganisms which are present in any environment have a major role in
natural decaying processes of living organisms as well as environmental
contaminants; this activity results in the natural release of gases especially
methane gas;
Ø Radioactive
decay processes –
for example, radon gas is emitted due to natural decay processes of Earth’s
crust which has potential to accumulate in enclosed spaces such as basements;
Ø Increasing
temperatures –
contribute to an increase in the amounts of contaminants volatilizing from polluted soil and water
into the air.
2. Man-made factors (Anthropogenic): The Man made pollution is being made by humans
and has huge effect on our environment and definitely ourselves. This includes, population growth,
deforestation, rapid u industrial development, burning of fossil fuel,
agricultural activities, mining, poor waste disposal etc.
Ø Mining and
smelting – emit
into the air a variety of metals adsorbed on particulate matter that is
suspended in the air due to crushing & processing of mineralogical
deposits;
Ø Mine tailing
disposal – due to
their fine particulate nature (resulting after crushing and processing mineral
ores) constitute a source of metals to ambient air which could be spread by the
wind over large areas;
Ø Foundry
activities – emit
into the air a variety of metals absorbed on particulate matter that is
suspended in the air due to processing of metallic raw materials (including the
use of furnaces);
Ø Various industrial
processes may emit both organic and inorganic contaminants through
accidental spills and leaks of stored chemicals or the handling and storage of chemicals
– especially of volatile inorganic chemicals
Ø Transportation – emits a series of air pollutants (gases
– including carbon monoxide, sulfur oxides, and nitrogen oxides - and
particulate matter) through the tailpipe gases due to internal combustion of
various fuels (usually gasses such as oxides of carbons, of sulfur, of
nitrogen, as well as organic chemicals as PAHs)
Ø Construction
and Demolition activities
– pollute the air with various construction materials. Of special threat is the demolition of old
buildings which may contain a series of banned chemicals such as PCBs, PBDEs,
asbestos.
Ø Coal Power
Plants – when
burning coal this may emit a series of gases as well as particulate matter with
metals (such as As, Pb, Hg) and organic compounds (especially PAHs);
Ø Heating of
buildings – emits a
series of gases and particulate matters due to burning fossil fuels;
Ø Waste
Incineration –
depending on waste composition, various toxic gases, and particulate matter is emitted
into the atmosphere;
Ø Landfill
disposal practices – usually
generate methane due to the intensification of natural microbial decaying
activity in the disposal area;
Ø Agriculture – pollute the air usually through
emissions of ammonia gas and the application of
pesticides/herbicides/insecticides which contain toxic volatile organic
compounds;
Ø Control burning
in forest and agriculture management – includes controlled burning that will
emit gases and particulate matter (similar to wildfires described above)
Ø Military
activities – may
introduce toxic gases through practices and training;
Ø Smoking – emits a series of toxic chemicals including a
series of organic and inorganic chemicals, some of which are carcinogenic;
Types of Pollutions
Ø Air pollution
Ø Water pollution
Ø Soil pollution
Ø Noise pollution
Ø Marine pollution
Ø Nuclear pollution
Amongst which the domesticated
animals are very much exposed to namely Air, Water and Soil pollution which in
turn affects the wellbeing of human.
Air pollution:
Definition:
Air pollution can be defined as the
presence of toxic chemicals or compounds (including those of biological origin)
in the air, at levels that pose a health risk. In an even broader
sense, air pollution means the presence of chemicals or compounds in the
air which are usually not present and which lower the quality of the air or
cause detrimental changes to the quality of life (such as the damaging of the
ozone layer or causing global warming).
Causes:
Any process that produces substances that are small and light
enough to be carried in air, or are gases themselves, can contribute to air
pollution. Some of the salient causes of air pollutions are as follows:
Industrial
emissions
Almost all of the common air
pollutants can be produced by industrial processes. Some of these are produced
by combustion of fossil fuels that drive the industrial process, resulting in
particulates, ozone and nitrogen oxides.
Transportation
emissions
Common forms of transportation like
cars, planes and ships generally use combustion to harness energy from fossil
fuels. The combustion process releases pollutants into the air, such as
particles and carbon monoxide, and also releases substances that quickly form
into nitrogen oxides and ozone, which are important air pollutants.
Agriculture Side-Effects
Farmers use machinery driven by
fossil fuels to plow fields and harvest produce, and the animals that are
raised in bulk for food also produce their own type of air pollution. Methane
is a gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect that allows global warming;
it arises from intestinal gas released by livestock.
Home Heating
Keeping homes warm is commonly the
job of fossil fuels such as oil, gas and coal. Their combustion means that
heating is an important source of air pollutants like sulfur dioxide. If
electricity is used to heat the house, the energy plants that produced it may
also have been driven by fossil fuels.
Home Cooking
The energy used in cooking may have
come from energy plants, in which case the potential for air pollution has
arisen earlier. Alternatively, such as in developing countries, home cooking
requires direct burning of wood or coals, which produces the particulate
pollution at the point of use.
Volcano Eruptions
Sometimes people think of air
pollution as entirely man-made. In fact, natural processes release lots of
substances into the air that are classed as pollution. Sulfur dioxide is a
major modern air pollutant, and according to National Geographic, volcanoes can
release enough sulfur dioxide into the air to influence global cooling.
Forest Fires
Forest fires release pollutants
into the air in the same way as fireplaces burning wood produce pollution. They
produce fine smoke particles, which, according to the EPA, are small enough to
be able to get into the lungs and damage the lungs and the heart.
Tobacco Smoke
In the developing world, homes may
have visible smoke coming from the fire that is used to cook and heat the home.
In the developed world, tobacco smoke is commonly the only visible type of air
pollution inside the house. Both types of indoor smoke are linked to
respiratory diseases.
Metal Smelting
Specific industries produce
particular air pollutant profiles, and the major source of metal pollution like
lead is metal smelting, although niche uses of lead, such as in the manufacture
of certain aviation fuels, also contribute.
Aerosols and CFCs
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in
aerosols were a major cause of ozone layer destruction, and their production
was banned in the United States in 1995. Despite such bans worldwide, the U.S.
National Library of Medicine says CFCs can last for a century in the
atmosphere, where they continue to do damage. The ozone layer helps shield the
planet from dangerous ultraviolet rays.
Effect of Air pollution on Livestock:
Animals are exposed to air pollutants via three pathways:
1. Inhalation of gases or small oau -
2. Ingestion of particles suspended in food and water
3. Absorption of gases through the skin.
In general only soft bodied invertebrates (e.g.
earth worms) or animals with thin, moist skin (e.g. amphibians) affected by the
absorption of pollutants. An individual' response to a pollutantvaries greatly
and depends on the type of pollutant involved, the duration and time of
exposure, andthe amount taken up by the animal. The individual's age, sex,
health, and reproductive condition alsoplay a role in its response. There is a
great deal of variability between animal classes, species, in terms of
tolerance to a particular pollutant.
Pigs, poultry, cattle, goats and to a far
lesser extend sheep are kept in indoor facilitiesfor a variable part of their
life, often for all of their life. For dairy cattle, goats and sheep
thesefacilities are quite open and air quality is to a certain degree
comparable with the outdoor airquality. The quality of this air is still much
better than that of the closed facilities for swine and poultry (Wathes et al.,
1998). These buildings are rather closed and the natural or mechanically
ventilation is via small air inlets and outlets. Indoor temperature is
regulated to create optimal growing conditions whereby heat loss via
ventilation is kept to a level that is just on the boundary of what is still physiologically
tolerable. The other reasons or closing these types of buildings much as
possible are the strict bio security procedures applied in order to avoid or
reduce introduction of potentialinfectious material via air or fomites. The
temperature in the facilities for optimal growth can be quite high. For
instance, one dayold broiler chicks are kept at a room temperature of 34 degree
C the first days of raising period there after ambient temperature will be
lowered by 1 degree C.Effect of different gaseous, non-acidic particulates and
Toxins on animals are as follows-
Air pollutants that have serious negative effects on the animal
health can be classified as toxic and non-toxic.
|
Non-Toxic
|
Toxic
|
|
These
pollutants can still asphyxiate by oxygen depletion, therefore they are still
not safe in certain quantities and/or contexts.
Non-explosives: Carbon
dioxide
|
Carcinogenic
:As, Cd, Ni, Hg, Some nitities, oxides etc.
|
Explosives: Methane
|
Non-carcinogenic:
lead, Co2, ammonia etc.
|
Sulphur di oxide (SO2) and Nitrogen oxides:
Sulfur
dioxide is a common pollutant in most civilized countries, from industrial
processing plants (coal, oil, cement, metal, wood, copper, electric power
plants etc.). It can cause various serious health problems, especially with
long-term exposure, exposure to critical levels, exposure in children or in
people with preexisting heart and lung conditions:
- temporary respiratory problems
- chronic bronchitis
- emphysema
- decreased fertility
- coughing
- stomach pain
- menstrual disorders
- nausea
- inhibition of thyroid function
- headache
- convulsions
- dizziness
Nitrogen
oxides are polluting the air through car exhaust, electric power plants, the
burning of various fuels, cigarette smoking, electroplating, welding etc.When
combined with volatile organic compounds, nitrogen oxides form smog; when
combined with sulfur dioxides, they form acid rain.Depending on the level and
length of exposure, nitrogen oxides can cause serious health problems:
- Breathing difficulties
- Throat spasms
- Fatigue
- Lung fluid build-up
- Decreased fertility in female
- Coughing
Sulphur di
oxide and Nitrogen oxides emitted as a result of fossil fuel combustion undergo
chemical transformation in the atmosphere and occur as a Sulphate, Nitrate and
Hydrogen ions when dissolves in precipitation known as acid rain. This acid
rain has the potential to detoriate the wellbeing of almost all living oranisms
on earth. The buildup sulphates and nitrates in the soil are up taken by the
plants and years after burning of such plants can emit Sulphur to the air as
well as they can reach to the watersheds to cause water pollution, which when
consumed by the animals are affected by Sulphur toxicity.
Carbon mono
oxide:
Carbon
monoxide is commonly used in the production of several kinds of chemicals. It
is part of the processing, preparation or production of phosgene, methanol
etc., used in meat coloring, as well as in metallurgy to extract metals from
ores. It is also naturally present in the human body, as a
neurotransmitter.Effects depend on the concentration of carbon monoxide you are
exposed to, and can include the following:
- Confusion, vision and balance problems
- Loss of consciousness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Muscle weakness
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Miscarriage
- Birth defects
- Damage to the nervous system
Carbon di oxide
(CO2)
Carbon dioxide is a colorless, odorless gas that occurs
naturally in volcanic eruptions, tree felling, spring water etc., and
anthropogenically, especially in the burning of fuels, but also through the
various industrial uses of carbon dioxide.
Carbon
dioxide can be very toxic to humans when inhaled or in direct contact,
especially in confined spaces. Exposure can lead to serious health problems:
- Hyperventilation
- Loss of vision
- Muscle contractions
- Shortness of breath
- Unconsciousness
- Nervous system damage
- Skin burns
- Elevated blood pressure
- Birth defects
Heavy metal toxicity:
Arsenic: The organo-arsenicals in food is one of the most common
poisoningin livestock now days because of the displacement of arsenic from
almost all phases of farmingactivities other than the factories which augment
the present condition. The common source ofarsenic is the chemical suspension
used for spraying on animal to control ecto-parasites. Clinicalsigns of arsenic
toxicity in cattle vary form gastrointestinal troubles to deadly nervous signs.
Chronic arsenic toxicity is mostly manifested in weight loss, capricious appetite,
conjunctivitis,mucosal and erythematic lesion including mouth ulceration,
anemia, liver and kidney damage,hyper pigmentation, skin damage (keratosis) and
black foot disease. Acute toxic effects includeabdominal cramping,
hyperesthesia in extremities, abdominal patellar reflexes and
abdominalelectrocardiogram. Such effects generally occur at the levels of
exposure equal to SOpg/kgweight/day. Recently, a study was undertaken in India
to evaluate an alternative source of arsenic inhuman food chain through
livestock. This study concluded that consumption of egg, agriculturalproduces
grown in arsenic contaminated soil and milk might causes arsenic toxicity.
Lead (Pb) : The source of lead includes natural and anthropogenic
processes such ascombustion of coal and mineral oil, smelters, mining, alloy
processing units, paint industries etc.Newly born animals are particularly
susceptible to lead exposure due to high gastrointestinal uptake and the permeable
blood brain barrier leading to neurotoxic effects even at low exposure. It is
themost common industrial metal that has become widespread in air, water, soil
and food and easilyaccumulates in the different vital organs especially liver,
kidney, bones and brain of the body.Besides, direct ingestion of lead which
causes increased blood lead level, accumulated lead in the
body also acts as a significant source of blood lead burden.
Higher levels of lead ingestion producemainly acute or chronic poisoning. It
causes decreased hemoglobin synthesis, impairment ofneurobehavioral and
psychological function, peripheral neuropathy and reproductive effects.
Leadtoxicity has been recorded in fishes, birds, dogs, goats, sheep, buffalo,
cow etc. There is a potentialrisk to human consumers of beef from the Pb
polluted industrial areas where such livestock areraised.Although soils can
contain appreciable concentration of lead in ethylene diaminetetra-acetic acid
(EDTA) extractable form, lead is poorly taken up by plants and concentrations
inpastures and crops rarely exceed 5 mg/kg dry matter (DM). The principal
threat to livestocktherefore comes from the soil and the vulnerable animals are
those consuming soil while grazing orforaging on contaminated land.
Fluorine toxicity:
Water, soil and plants with naturally high fluorine (F)
content are usually the maincause of fluorosis. The most important effects are
seen in the wild and domestic animals that areexposed for long periods to
excess fluorine due the industrial pollution. In a number of small villages in
Sicily, Turkey and India there is naturally occurring fluoride in the water
ranging from0.7 to 5.4 ppm. The villagers and their livestock are chronically
ill, while neighboring villages withno fluoride have no such illnesses. Lower
milk production has been described amongst cattle. Cows
which were exposed to inorganic fluoride in drinking water at
concentrations of 5, 10 or 12 mgF/kg produced significantly fewer calves than
the controls. This effect preceded the development of clinical symptoms of fluorosis
in domestic as well as wild animals.
Mercury (Hg):
Mercury is considered as a highly toxic metal in the
environments.The sources of mercury are plastics (vinyl chloride), chloralkali
(in the manufacture of chlorineand caustic soda). electrical (electrical
switches, batteries and fluorescent light) and electronicbatteries. The
effluents from these industries served as a source of mercurial contamination
ofwater. Soil contains less mercury i.e. maximum 2.12 and avg. 0.09 mg kg DM.
Pastures and cropsalso contain mercury in minute amount, fish meal is important
source. Mercurous chloride intendedfor treatment of club routes in Brassica
species has recently caused death of dairy heifers andtopical administration of
mercury containing drugs. Soil erosion contributes to the Hgcontamination.The
toxicity of mercury depends on its chemical form e.g. methyl mercury being
themost hazardous metal and stable form of mercury which has been attributed to
the suffering of mostavian and mammalian predators at the top of contaminated
tropics.Mercury passes through placental barrier and may cause intra-uterine
death offoetus,foetal resorption and stillbirth. Flash containing more than 0.4
ppm Hg are unfit human consumption. The critical urinary concentration of Hg
has been suggested as l to 2 ug/ml.Minamata disease is characterized by
symptoms of fatigue, loss of memory concentration, tremors,constriction of
visual field and cortical blindness. The animal consumed high mercury
containingvegetation will be affected and will suffer from alopecia, neropathy
visual GI tract disorder. Selenium and mercury is mutual antagonist and
addition of selenium in the dietprovides substantial protection against
inorganic and organic mercury toxicity in poultry.
Cadmium Cd : It is a heavy metal grouped with Zn and Hg in
the periodic table. Itis very reactive, toxic and is a cumulative poison for
animal and equally for human beings. Purecadmium is a soft, silver-white metal.
It is usually found as a mineral combined with other elementsin the form of
cadmium oxide, cadmium chloride, cadmium sulphate etc. Refined foods,
waterfoods, water pipes, coffee, tea, coal burning and cigarette are all the
most important source ofcadmium. Cadmium is sparsely distributed in
agricultural ecosystem including the soil. Uptake byplants is poor and it is
true particularly for clay soils. Occasionally, soils become enriched
withcadmium from cadmium rich fertilizers or the dispersal of wastes from
mining and smelting metalssuch as Zn and Pb. Cadmium levels >2.4 mg kg DM is
regarded as high. Cadmium is stronglyretained by topsoil. Super phosphate
fertilizers contain <5 to 134 mg Cd kg depending on countryand region of
origin. Sewage sludges contain variable and occasionally excessive
cadmiumconcentrations (upto 20 mg/kg DM).Cadmium accumulated in the kidnev and
liver over long time. It is interacted withnumbers of minerals mainly Zn, Fe,
Cu and Se due to chemical similarities and competition forbinding stage. It is
also reported that Cd causes renal tubules damage, cardiovascular
disease,cancer, osteomalacia and also affect calcium. phosphorus and bone
metabolism. Sheep developedcadmium toxicity with Cd >40 mg kg DM and shows
signs similar to zinc deficiency e.g. loss of appetite, poor growth retarded testicular
development, parakeratosis, high Cdincreases Zn requirements in sheep. Later, with
less severe Cd containing feed and copper content barely adequate, sheep
develop signs similar to deficiency of copper viz. anemia impaired
bonemineralization, loss of wool crimp, low birth weight, abortion and still
birth.
Chromium: Factory wastes of stainless steel, leather tanning,
explosives, ceramics,paint pigments, photography and wood preservatives are the
main sources of chromium. Chromiumhas potent carcinogenic effects on livestock
as well as human. Trivalent form of chromium isessential to livestock and human
because it plays an important role in insulin metabolism.Chromium toxicity
includes liver necrosis, nephrites. gastrointestinal irritation, ulcers
(coetaneous,nasal and mucus membrane). Trace amount of chromium is important in
glucose metabolism.
Indirect effect
of pollutants on Ecosystem:
In addition to
affecting individual animals or population directly, air pollutants also affect
animals indirectly by causing changes in the ecosystem. Vegetation serves as a
food source. Therefore, any change in vegetation could indirectly affect animal
population. Many studies have been found in invertebrates show a preference for
or are better able to establish themselves in air pollution injured vegetation.
Table. Time-weighted average exposure values (TWAEV), short-term
exposure values (STEV) and ceiling exposure values (CEV) not to be exceeded for
biological and chemical agents (Occupational Health and Safety Act, Ontario,
1986). Some USA values are also included.
|
Agent
|
TWAEV
|
STEV
|
Agricultural
operations with concentrations exceeding TWAEV
|
|
Carbon
Dioxide
(ppm)
|
5000
|
30,000
|
Swine,
poultry
|
|
Ammonia
(ppm)
|
25
|
35
|
Poultry,
swine and dairy calves
|
|
Hydrogen
Sulphide (ppm)
|
10
|
15
|
During
manure agitation for swine, dairy and poultry
|
|
Carbon
Monoxide (ppm) USA (86/87)
|
35
40
|
400
400
|
Poultry
and swine facilities when unvented fuel fired heaters are maladjusted
|
|
Nitrogen
Dioxide
(ppm)
|
3
|
5
|
Inside
silos after filling
|
|
Grain
Dust
(mg/m3)
|
4
|
-
|
Livestock
feed rooms and grain centres
|
|
Total
Dust
(mg/m3)
|
10
|
-
|
Most
barns after animal feeding
|
|
Respirable
Dust
(mg/m3) USA (86/87)
|
5
|
1
|
-
|
Ways to mitigate air pollution:
·
Conserve energy - at home, at work,
everywhere.
·
Look for the ENERGY STAR label when buying
home or office equipment.
·
Carpool, use public transportation, bike, or
walk whenever possible.
·
Follow gasoline refueling instructions for
efficient vapor recovery, being careful not to spill fuel and always tightening
your gas cap securely.
·
Consider purchasing portable gasoline
containers labeled “spill-proof,” where available.
·
Keep car, boat, and other engines properly
tuned.
·
Be sure your tires are properly inflated.
·
Use environmentally safe paints and cleaning
products whenever possible.
·
Mulch or compost leaves and yard waste.
·
Consider using gas logs instead of wood.
·
Choose a cleaner
commute - share a ride to work or use public transportation.
·
Combine errands and
reduce trips. Walk to errands when possible.
·
Avoid excessive idling
of your automobile.
·
Refuel your car in the
evening when its cooler.
·
Conserve electricity
and set air conditioners no lower than 78 degrees.
·
Defer lawn and
gardening chores that use gasoline-powered equipment, or wait until evening.
Water
pollution:
The
causes of water pollution include a wide range of
chemicals and
pathogens as well as physical parameters.
Contaminants may include
organic and
inorganic substances. Elevated temperatures
can also lead to polluted water. A common cause of
thermal pollution is the use of water as
a
coolant by
power plants and industrial manufacturers.
Elevated water temperatures decrease oxygen levels, which can kill fish and
alter
food chain composition, reduce species
biodiversity, and foster invasion by new
thermophilic species.
Effect of water pollution on livestock
While we humans only feel the harmful consequences of water
pollution when we consume contaminated water, go swimming in polluted water
sites or make aquatic life forms from polluted water bodies part of our diet,
animals are easier victims of the harmful effects of water pollution. While we
have the option of treating polluted water to make it safe and drinkable and we
can always choose not to bathe in polluted waters or refrain from eating
aquatic animals, animals are not capable of resorting to any of these
alternatives to escape the toxicity of water that has been contaminated by
human and industrial waste.
Some common issues faced by animals from pollution and
contamination of water by humans are as follows:-
·
Chemical contaminants carried by industrial wastes kill a
lot of smaller aquatic organisms, such as frogs, fish, tadpoles, etc. This, in
turn, causes a loss of food source for bigger aquatic creatures, leading them
to either consume poisoned, dead fish and perish, or leave their natural
habitat to go in search of food in other aquatic quarters. Often, this leads to
sickness and death of these animals due to the inability to adapt to changed
water temperatures, unfavorable tides, as well as exposure to new predators.
·
An excess of nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus in
the water, leads to an increased growth of toxic algae and aquatic plants, that
cause poisoning and death in fish and other animals who feed on them.
·
Presence of huge quantities of mercury in water has led to a
lot of undesirable changes in aquatic species. Too much mercury leads to
hormonal imbalances and glandular damage, leading to abnormal behavioral
shifts. Also, mercury is a toxic metallic chemical that gives a huge blow to
the reproductive functions, growth and development of animals, that are
continuously exposed to high doses of it.
·
Oil spills that introduce unhealthy amounts of oil into the
marine environment also make marine animals sick and lead to their unnatural
deaths.
·
Dumping solid trash such as plastic, metallic scrap,
garbage, etc., may block aquatic channels, and can also cause small animals to
get trapped in the debris. Most water-dwelling animals tend to suffocate or
drown on being trapped and unable to swim.
·
Polluted water used for irrigation also contaminates the
soil and the agricultural produce. This may lead to health issues in
herbivorous animals who feed on agricultural plants and leftovers.
·
These pollutants can radically alter the metabolism of a
number of soil-dwelling bacteria and insects, making them perish or unsuitable
for consumption by common predators of the local ecosystem.
·
Atmospheric pollutants may get mixed with clouds and fall
back on earth as acid rain. This toxic shower is potent enough to inflict
mortal injuries to any life form that gets exposed to it.
These are a few of the most common
and prominent repercussions of water pollution on animals. From these points,
we can easily see that most animals get hit harder than humans, when water is
contaminated. Although huge steps need to be taken on national and industrial
levels to arrest this situation before it goes totally out of our hands,
individuals can do their small part by refraining from littering beaches and
lakes with paper, plastic and other garbage, so that lesser animals make it to the Extinct
Species list.
Ways to mitigate
water pollution:
1. Keep out oils, fat, or
grease from the sink. Desist from pouring cooking oil, fat or grease down
the kitchen sink. Instead, keep a jar that collects all the fats, grease or oil
then discard in solid waste.
2. Abstain from flushing
contaminated liquids, pills, drugs, or medications down the drain. These substances contain
scores of toxic materials that destroy the quality of natural water systems.
Instead, use the recommended disposal methods.
3. Desist from using the
toilet as a bin. Most people discard dust clothes, paper wastes, synthetic
materials, and wrappers in the toilet. The destructive elements of these
materials may finally end up in the oceans, lakes or rivers. Desisting from
this habit can considerably prevent water pollution.
4. Ensure minimal use of
bleach or detergents. During cleaning of laundry or cutleries, it is vital
to minimize the use of bleach and detergents. Instead, you can persist on only
using phosphate-free detergents and soaps.
5. Reduce the use of
herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers. Excessive use of herbicides,
pesticides, and fertilizers leads to water pollution as the chemicals contained
in the products often find way into the water systems through surface runoff
or infiltration into the soil. Minimizing their usage or using organic methods for
pest, weed, and disease control can appreciably reduce water pollution.
6. Proper sewage treatment
and management. Proper sewage treatment is required to limit the amount of
toxic substances that normally end up in water systems such as lakes, rivers,
and oceans. Also, individual homes that use septic tanks or cellar drains need
to ensure proper management of their home sewage to avoid pollution.
7. Dispose trash
properly. When trash is not disposed properly some of the
non-degradable products such as diapers and sanitary towels may end up
destroying the process of sewage treatment, especially when they are flushed
down the toilet. At times, poor disposal of solid non-degradable materials such
as plastics normally ends up littering the beaches and river banks.
8. Avoid direct dumping into
water systems. By all means possible, we should desist from disposing
rubbish or any other waste products into lakes, rivers, streams or oceans.
Still, you can do the best to clean your local water body whenever you notice
rubbish littering the beaches or banks.
9. Always conserve
water. Play an active role in reducing water pollution by conserving water at
all time. You can achieve this by ensuring the taps are always turned off when
they are not in use. Conserving water reduces the amount of contaminated water
that needs to be treated.
10. Insist on using
environmentally safe products. Whenever you purchase household products such as
cleaning material, medical supplies, paints, insect/ant repellants, or chemical
substances; always persist on obtaining and using products that are less
harmful to the environment.
11. Practice
tree planting. Planting trees reduce the speed of surface water
runoff and as such, lessens erosion and prevents toxic substances and chemicals
from washing into water systems. If you live next to a water body, please take
this initiative today and plant trees and vegetation covers such as flowers,
grass, and shrubs.
12.
Re-use automobile oil as much as possible and keep your vehicle well
maintained. Re-using automobile oil reduces the amount of used
oil that is discarded which may end up polluting water bodies. Also, it is
essential to keep your vehicle well maintained so as to prevent the leakage of
deadly fluids like oil and antifreeze.
13.
Support green-oriented companies. These are the companies that
take creative initiatives to reduce water pollution. For instance, some green
cleaning product companies make the packaging materials by using recycling
plastics collected from the oceans. Also, some sewage treatment firms now clean
wastewater without the use of chemicals. Supporting and using the services of
such companies can greatly help
reduce water pollution.
14.
Use super energy saving washing machines. When purchasing washing
machines, ensure you buy energy star approved washing equipment which can save
energy and up to 60 liters of water. Eventually, it reduces the amount of
wastewater that needs treatment.
15.
De-clog your drains naturally. The typical drain cleaners contain
several noxious chemicals such as sodium hydroxide. You can instead use natural
methods such as pouring equal portions of white vinegar, boiling water and
baking soda and let it stay in the drain for 30 minutes before rinsing.
16.
Always opt for recyclable and reusable options. Reusable and
recycled materials avoid the unnecessary use of water. By using these options,
it, therefore, means you are conserving water. At the same time, you are
minimizing the amount of waste water produced during production and processing.
This should also include re-using dishware and linens such as towels and bed
sheets.
17.
Skip the use of plastics. Plastic leftovers such as used plastic
water bottles, disposable plastic plates, and plastic bags frequently end up in
the oceans, lakes, streams and rivers, contaminating natural habitats and
destroying aquatic life.
18.
Dispose motor oil, batteries or antifreeze at specially assigned collection
points. Ensure each and every time you want to dispose used
engine oil, batteries or antifreeze you do so at designated collection points
to avoid the unnecessary contamination of ecosystems which may end up polluting
surface and ground waters.
19.
Keep your boat well maintained if you have one or in charge of any. Ensure
your boat is in good condition at all times to avoid toxic substances from
leaking into the water.
20.
Only wash when you have a full load. By washing only when you
have full loads of laundry and dishware, you can save tons of water while also
reducing the amount of contaminated water that has to be treated.
21.
Pick up pet waste. Pet waste might contain harmful bacteria which
can flow into storm drains and contaminate water systems.
22.
Practice organic farming. Organically grown crops reduce the
quantity of herbicides and pesticides used in farming. It also promotes the use
of organic fertilizer which promotes natural growth and eliminates the use of
toxic chemicals found in synthetic fertilizers, which can penetrate into the
ground and pollute water supplies.
23.
Contact the local water protection and conservation authority whenever you
notice any pollution activities. Take the initiative of promptly
contacting the relevant local water conservation office when you notice any
kind of pollutant or chemical being discharged or injected into water bodies.
24.
Install water-efficient household appliances. In our homes, we
have several appliances used for cleaning and sanitary purposes such as
dishwashers, washing machines, toilets, and shower heads. When we persist on
installing these types of appliances that are water efficient, we end up saving
millions of liters of water which would have been contaminated. Next time you
want to install any of these products, first, look at their water efficiency
rating.
25.
Take action by actively participating in water pollution prevention. You
can make monetary contributions or donations to water conservation agencies.
Also, you can actively sensitize your peers and community on how to prevent
water pollution and how they can ensure water conservation.
Conclusion:
Much is being done to control, monitor and rectify
damage done by pollutants. The problems are diverse and some are only being
recognised but it is important to keep a close control over pollutants so that
we can maintain the environment in an acceptable condition for future
generations.
References:
1. Swarup, D., &Dwivedi, S. K. (1998). Research on
effects of pollution in livestock. Indian Journal of Animal Sciences
(India).
3. FAO report 2013,
Guidelines to control water pollution from agriculture in China Decoupling
water pollution from agricultural production.
